We Have A Reader!

I haven't been working with LG on reading. Mainly this is because I don't believe in pushing your kid to do academics before they are ready. I was a teacher and I have seen how pushing can cause kids to shut down. A week or so ago, I bought a word family book and LG was doing great sounding out the words. I thought I would get her some basic reading books to try out. She is really into it!

I think the key is that I don't push her. I do it when she wants to do it. She is very proud of herself and we are just as proud. I am hoping that she will have a lifelong love of reading like I do! Here is a video for you....



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Mrs. Freitas!

I miss being Mrs. Freitas. I am mom, mommy, mama, Lia, and Li. My mom calls me sis. I have had a million names I have answered to but the one I miss most is "Mrs. Freitas." At the golf club, I am called Mrs. Freitas by some of the staff and that feels really weird to me because it makes me feel old. What I miss are the 8 year olds I used to teach calling out for me.

It has been 4 years since I have been in the classroom. I have missed it almost as long. I loved being a teacher, although I probably bitched about it a lot. My teaching partners were the best EVER and I miss them. Of course, there are days when I can't imagine working full time but other days it is ALL I can think of. Which is why I am looking to finally go back.

Some of you that have known me for a long time know that all I ever really wanted to be was a mom. I wanted to stay home because my mom never got to do so and it was very important to me to be able to do so. The first year was great! Since then though, it has been really hard for me. My life has become all about taking care of others. I take care of LG all day. I take care of our house and my husband also. I have not, however, been taking care of ME. I have been miserable for a really long time.

I have stuck it out because it was a commitment made to myself and my family but I feel like it is really time to do what is right for me. If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. I am hoping to head back, of course, right as education is suffering HUGE budget cuts. The good thing is that I don't have to go back so if I don't find something I will be ok. The bad thing is that I am not lucky enough to be able to afford a nanny or full-time day care without a job so if I find something later it may be more difficult to find somewhere for LG to be. I figure I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Until I find something, keep us in your thoughts. The is a really tough step for me. Even though I am excited and looking forward to being Mrs. Freitas again, I am a bit fearful.

R.I.P Michael Jackson

WOW, as I wrote this today, it came out differently than I planned. I thought I was going to be a bit more harsh on him but as I wrote, it all came out in a very different way. I am keeping it true to my thoughts though and not changing it.

I wasn't actually planning to write about Michael Jackson's death. It isn't because I don't care but more because EVERYONE is writing about it and I am a little tired of hearing about it.

I respect everyone's feelings about the King of Pop. He was amazing. He was a HUGE icon for my generation. He was a bizarre. He made some very poor errors in judgement during his life. He died too soon. The list could go on and on.

As a mother, my opinion of Michael was a bit jaded after the whole molestation case. It isn't that I believe he did or didn't do it but at that point I realized how sad he was. He was HUGE and LOVED by people around the world but it wasn't enough. I cannot respect that he slept with children in his bed or gave them wine, etc., but what I can take away from it is that he was man who loved children because they have unconditional love and he didn't have enough of that.

I am sure that many people around him loved him conditionally. That makes me terribly sad. I know he had family who did love him no matter what but I am not sure that it was enough. I will admit, in some ways I am thankful that he may be at peace now. I hope he is at peace. I hope that today he can look down on his memorial service and see the billions of people that worshiped him. I hope he can put all the pain he felt in his life aside and realize that he was loved. I hope he can scoop it all up and keep it with him and finally feel peace.

Fourth of July

The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday. I think it is because I spent every 4th at our cabin in Michigan with my grandparents. We would swim in the lake and play with fireworks, especially sparklers. It is a time in my life that I look back on very fondly. Although I haven't been to that cabin in 20+ years, I remember everything about it like it was yesterday. I was missing that cabin so much yesterday.

I was also missing my grandma's town. It isn't even actually a "town" it is a village. It is only 2.5 square miles and 6,300 people. There is a parade every year on the 4th that everyone goes to. I miss that small town! I wouldn't want to live there but visiting is nice.

In the past we have spent the 4th with friends but this year we had no plans. NONE! We ended up mostly hanging out around the house, visiting Vovo and playing with Uncle NY and Eric. After naps we headed up to the club and hit balls together which was fun. We all came back and Uncle and Eric came over for dinner. It was small but nice.

Also for the first time in 4 years we went to fireworks at home. Last year we were in LA for Nick and Amy's wedding (Happy Anniversary!!) and the year before we were in Maui. Before then, LG would be asleep WAY before firework time. I was so excited to take LG this year.

We went to Cupertino and snuggled on a blanket. Eric and Uncle NY came with us which was super fun. It was really cold though!! I loved snuggling with LG and listening to her oooh and aahhh. She was so excited. It really is amazing to experience things through her eyes.

Sitting there in that big field, reminded me of all the years we would go to Morgan Hill to watch fireworks. It made me smile to think that we are starting to make our own traditions. They might not be the same as my trips to the lake in Michigan but they are still fun!

Strawberry Picking

We headed to the coast today to go berry picking. Last year, LG and I missed out on strawberry picking so I really wanted to do it this year. There used to be a ranch close to us that had berry picking but this year they closed before we could get there. The closest place to go was Pescadero which is about an hour away on the coast.

It was a long drive to get there but thankfully, I put the DVD player in the car so that LG didn't drive me nuts on the drive over.I was also a bit concerned that it was going to be cold over the hill because of the marine layer taunting us on the drive over but it was BEAUTIFUL!!!Swanton Berry Farm is great! The berries grow on mounds of dirt so they are about knee high which is great for us old people. haha!

It was also right at hand level for the girls. LG and Aminah went to town. Sarah and I put in some work too!

We were done after about an hour so it was just the perfect amount of time for the girls. We hauled the loot back to find out how much we had picked. OK, we made the girls haul the loot.We ended up with 18 lbs of strawberries. LG and I had 10 lbs. so now I am trying to figure out what to make with them! Stay tuned....